KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton clubs are still not recognised as a reliable feeder of talents for the national body.

At least, this is the understanding of Looi Badminton Academy’s managing director Datuk Jack Koh, following the Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) failure to invite his club’s budding players for a recent selection trial to pick the best juniors to represent the country in the World Junior Championships in Alor Setar from April 7-18.

Jack had asked that five of his players, including reigning Uganda International boys’ doubles champion Yeoh Seng Zoe-Chong Chun Quan, be allowed to take part in the selection trial but his request was not entertained.

Jack said that his club was disappointed with the decision.

“I met BAM’s management two months ago and the assurance was given that club players would be given a chance to take part in selection trials but unfortunately, my recent request was rejected,” said Jack.

URGENT: Daren, Wei Feng must start delivering or make way

LIEW Daren and Chong Wei Feng can still become quality internationals if they can perform consistently as national singles coach Tey Seu Bock feels it will take another three years for the current batch of junior shuttlers to make a breakthrough.

However, Daren and Wei Feng must produce improved results by the end of the year to convince the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) they can still be depended on until the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro as both are already 27.

The chasing pack comprises Chong Yee Han and Tan Kian Meng, both 21, while three 19-year-old shuttlers -- Soo Teck Zhi, Soong Joo Ven and Lim Chi Wing -- are also being groomed to fill the vacuum which will be created should Lee Chong Wei retire at the end of the year.

The 29-year-old Kien Keat failed to turn up since training resumed after the Chinese New Year break on Feb 4. But he had informed the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) of his intention to go for an eye treatment. He went for the treatment last Monday.

Earlier, there were speculations that Kien Keat was not interested to play badminton any more.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former internationals Ng Hui Lin and Ng Hui Ern are keen to rejoin the national badminton team after completing their tertiary studies in June.

The return of this women’s doubles pair should be well received by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) as it will strengthen Malaysia’s depth in the women’s team event for the Asian Games in Incheon in September.

Since leaving the national team to pursue degrees in Economics at the University of Loughborough in Britain in 2011, sisters Hui Lin and Hui Ern have done well to strike a balance between studies and badminton.

The duo are in the final year of their studies and have somehow done well to maintain a good world ranking.

The are now 23rd in the world – just seven spots behind Myanmar SEA Games gold medallist Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo and four ahead of Amelia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho.

KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles shuttler Teo Kok Siang is one of the most talented players with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). Unfortunately, a series of bad luck has halted his progress over the last three years.

It may have impeded his progress but it certainly hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm nor desire to dream big.

Yesterday, Kok Siang, with a scar on his forehead and an ugly mark on his right hand, was a picture of steely determination as he underwent rehabilitation following a car crash on the eve of the Chinese New Year that left him with multiple fractures on his right hand as well as injuries to his head, which needed more than 20 stitches.

KUALA LUMPUR: Independent singles shuttler Zulfadli Zulkiffli has his international assignments all planned out for the next two months.

And he is on a wing and a prayer that it will not clash with Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)’s selection trial for the Thomas Cup Finals in May in New Delhi.

Zulfadli, who is currently sponsored by Red Bull, will be taking part in the Austria International Challenge from Feb 19-22 in Vienna, All-England (March 4-9), Swiss Open (March 12-17) and the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold (March 25-30) in Johor Baru.

BAM have yet to fix a date although they had announced earlier that they would hold an open trial to give independent shuttlers a shot at making the cut for the world team event.

KUALA LUMPUR: The movement of the national coaches and players at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara is being closely monitored.

Since Feb 4, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have installed a thumbprint attendance system that requires coaches and players to clock in and out every day as they enter and leave the national training centre.

The move is to monitor the attendance of the coaches and players as the management does not want them to go AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) during training or to turn up late for their practice sessions.

KUALA LUMPUR: Have national men’s doubles shuttler Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong lost their motivation to play?

All indicators point that way if their string of misfortunes are anything to go by.

On Thursday, Kien Keat suffered another blow in his bid to revive his flagging career. He had to request for time off from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) after the recurrence of an eye infection.

It now requires immediate laser treatment, which he hopes to get done on Monday.

This means, Kien Keat will miss a scheduled physical test, which is being planned by the National Sports Institute (NSI) next week.

PETALING JAYA: Doubles shuttler Koo Kien Keat has the blessings of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to leave the fold.

The 28-year-old Kien Keat had experienced poor form with partner Tan Boon Heong and submitted his resignation on Feb 21.

And on Friday, BAM deputy president Datuk Norza Zakaria, who was given the mandate to chair the decision, acknowledged that Kien Keat’s resignation had been accepted.

Despite coming under heavy criticism over the past few months, Kien Keat leaves the national team with no hard feelings and promises a return in the near future.

“I’m not leaving BAM because I have issues with anyone or because of any feeling of dissatisfaction with any party in the association,” said Kien Keat, who won the Asian Games gold medal in 2006, All-England in 2007, and made the World Championships final in 2010 with Boon Heong.

PETALING JAYA: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff admits that the challenge is for them to produce an heir to world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei.

But the outspoken president points out that BAM will not neglect the likes of Chong Wei Feng and Liew Daren while focusing on the younger batch of players coming through the ranks.

Both Wei Feng and Daren were disappointing at the recent Malaysian Open, crashing out in the first round.

“It is BAM’s challenge to improve the quality of the backup squad and to produce world beaters in the future. We will definitely be working hard with the coaches to raise that standard,” said Tengku Mahaleel.